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Abstract:

An apparatus, a computer program product and a method is provided for
data accessing during wireless communication. The example embodiment
comprises receiving, through a transceiver at an apparatus, a first
wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more indications
instructing write operation for the payload data (520), and powering down
the transceiver at least partly while storing the received payload data
into an associated memory (530) one or more indications.

Claims:

1. A method comprising: receiving, through a transceiver, a first
wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more indications
instructing write operation for the payload data; and powering down the
transceiver at least partly while storing the received payload data into
an associated memory apparatus according to the one or more indications.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a second
wireless signal comprising power for storing the received payload data of
the first wireless signal into the associated memory.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising maintaining
synchrony for communication by extracting timing information from the
second wireless signal.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein storing the received payload
data into the associated memory comprises transferring the received
payload data temporarily into a buffer memory and storing the payload
data into a nonvolatile memory.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A computer program product comprising computer executable program
code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the
computer executable program code comprising: code configured to receive,
through a transceiver, a first wireless signal comprising payload data
and one or more indications instructing write operation for the payload
data; and code configured to power down the transceiver at least partly
while storing the received payload data into an associated memory
apparatus according to the one or more indications.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, further
comprising code configured to receive a second wireless signal comprising
power for storing the received payload data of the first wireless signal
into the associated memory.

12. The computer program product according to 11, further comprising code
configured to maintain synchrony for communication by extracting timing
information from the second wireless signal.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. An apparatus, comprising: a transceiver; at least one processor; and
at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one
memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in
cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to
perform at least the following: receive, through the transceiver, a first
wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more indications
instructing write operation for the payload data; and power down the
transceiver at least partly while the received payload data is stored
into the at least one memory.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least one memory
and the executable instructions are further configured to, in cooperation
with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive a second
wireless signal comprising power for storing the received payload data of
the first wireless signal into the associated memory.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one memory
and the executable instructions are further configured to, in cooperation
with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to maintain
synchrony for communication by extracting timing information from the
second wireless signal.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least one memory
and the executable instructions are further configured to, in cooperation
with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transfer the
received payload data temporarily into a buffer memory and store the
payload data into a non-volatile memory.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. A method comprising: detecting a write-enabled device; selecting an
operation mode configured to write data to the write-enabled device; and
transmitting a first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or
more indications configured to instruct write operation for the payload
data according to the selected operation mode.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising transmitting a
second wireless signal comprising power for powering the write-enabled
device at least partly.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the second wireless signal
further comprises timing information for maintaining synchrony for
communication by the write-enabled device.

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. A computer program product comprising computer executable program
code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the
computer executable program code comprising: code configured to detect a
write-enabled device; code configured to select an operation mode
configured to write data to the write-enabled device; and code configured
to transmit a first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or
more indications configured to instruct write operation for the payload
data according to the selected operation mode.

37. The computer program product according to claim 36, further
comprising code configured to transmit a second wireless signal
comprising power for powering the write-enabled device at least partly.

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. An apparatus, comprising: a transceiver; at least one processor; and
at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one
memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in
cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to
perform at least the following: detect a write-enabled device; select an
operation mode configured to write data to the write-enabled device; and
transmit a first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more
indications configured to instruct write operation for the payload data
according to the selected operation mode.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the at least one memory
and the executable instructions are further configured to, in cooperation
with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit a second
wireless signal comprising power for powering the write-enabled device at
least partly.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the second wireless
signal further comprises timing information for maintaining synchrony for
communication by the write-enabled device.

46. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the one or more
indications comprise a time period for powering down a transceiver of the
write-enabled device at least partly when storing the transmitted payload
data.

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

60. (canceled)

61. (canceled)

62. (canceled)

63. (canceled)

64. (canceled)

65. (canceled)

66. (canceled)

Description:

[0002] Modern society has adopted, and is becoming reliant upon, wireless
communication devices for various purposes, such as, connecting users of
the wireless communication devices with other users. Wireless
communication devices can vary from battery powered handheld devices to
stationary household and/or commercial devices utilizing an electrical
network as a power source. Due to rapid development of the wireless
communication devices a number of areas capable of enabling entirely new
types of communication applications have emerged. Not only has the
processing power of electronic devices become faster and more power
efficient than before, but also the memories and radio communication
interfaces have developed with leaps such that new opportunities for
useful implementations arise with an increasing pace.

[0003] Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an example of a technology
that is experiencing a change of generation thanks to development in both
communications and memory technologies. Originally, RFID technology was
intended to provide an inexpensive, remotely readable tag that basically
functions as a remotely readable bar code with a small memory to hold for
example the identity of the tag. The tag comprised a small persistent
memory with a unique identity (ID) corresponding to a code represented by
the bar code system. For remote reading, a wireless transponder was
provided to send the ID when receiving suitable radio transmission
powering the transponder. Recently, faster radio powered communication
technologies have been developed and the development of new memories
enable storing of more than just some bytes of data in a memory
associated with an RFID tag.

SUMMARY

[0004] Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the
claims.

[0005] According to first aspect of the present invention, a method is
provided comprising receiving, through a transceiver at an apparatus, a
first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more indications
instructing write operation for the payload data, and powering down the
transceiver at least partly while storing the received payload data into
an associated memory within the apparatus according to the one or more
indications.

[0006] According to second aspect of the present invention, a computer
program product is disclosed, adapted to cause performation of the method
according to the first aspect when said program is run on a computer.

[0007] According to third aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is
disclosed, comprising means for receiving, through a transceiver at an
apparatus, a first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or
more indications instructing write operation for the payload data, and
means for powering down the transceiver at least partly while storing the
received payload data into an associated memory within the apparatus
according to the one or more indications.

[0008] According to fourth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
is disclosed, comprising means for detecting a write-enabled device,
means for selecting an operation mode configured to write data to the
write-enabled device, and means for transmitting a first wireless signal
comprising payload data and one or more indications configured to
instruct write operation for the payload data according to the selected
operation mode.

[0009] According to fifth aspect of the present invention, a method is
provided comprising detecting a write-enabled device, the method further
comprising selecting an operation mode configured to write data to the
write-enabled device, and transmitting a first wireless signal comprising
payload data and one or more indications configured to instruct write
operation for the payload data according to the selected operation mode.

[0010] According to sixth aspect of the present invention, a computer
program product is disclosed, adapted to cause performation of the method
according to the fifth aspect when said program is run on a computer.

[0011] According to seventh aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
is disclosed, comprising means for detecting a write-enabled device,
means for selecting an operation mode configured to write data to the
write-enabled device, and means for transmitting a first wireless signal
comprising payload data and one or more indications configured to
instruct write operation for the payload data according to the selected
operation mode.

[0012] According to eighth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
is disclosed, comprising a transceiver, at least one processor and at
least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one
memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in
cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to
perform at least the following: Detect a write-enabled device; select an
operation mode configured to write data to the write-enabled device; and
transmit a first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more
indications configured to instruct write operation for the payload data
according to the selected operation mode.

[0013] According to ninth aspect of the present invention, a method is
disclosed, comprising receiving, through a transceiver at an apparatus, a
wireless signal requesting data from an associated memory, and powering
down the transceiver at least partly while reading out requested data
from the associated memory.

[0014] According to tenth aspect of the present invention, a computer
program product is disclosed, adapted to cause performation of the method
according to the ninth aspect when said program is run on a computer.

[0015] According to eleventh aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
is disclosed comprising means for receiving, through a transceiver at an
apparatus, a wireless signal requesting data from an associated memory,
and means for powering down the transceiver at least partly while reading
out requested data from the associated memory.

[0016] According to twelfth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
is disclosed comprising a transceiver, at least one processor, and at
least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one
memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in
cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to
perform at least the following: Receive, through the transceiver, a
wireless signal requesting data from the at least one memory; and power
down the transceiver at least partly while reading out requested data
from the at least one memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the
present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 discloses an example of operational environment in which
apparatuses according to an example embodiment of the invention may be
used;

[0019] FIG. 2 discloses a modular layout for an example apparatus
according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 3A discloses a modular layout for another example apparatus
according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 3B discloses a modular layout for the other example apparatus
according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram showing example operations for
transmitting data to another device for information storing according to
an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram showing example operations for
information storing according to an example embodiment of the present
invention; and

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram showing example operations for
receiving data from another device according to an example embodiment of
the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram showing example operations for
providing information to another device according to an example
embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 8 discloses an apparatus comprising example hardware for
implementing computer software instructions stored in the apparatus
according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] An example embodiment of the present invention and its potential
effects are understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 discloses an example of operational environment 100 in which
various apparatuses according to an example embodiment of the invention
may be used. An apparatus 200, for example a personal computer, an
engineering workstation, a personal digital assistant, a portable
computer, a computerized watch, a wired or wireless terminal, phone,
node, and/or the like, a set-top box, a personal video recorder (PVR), an
automatic teller machine (ATM), a game console, or the like is shown
having communication means, such as a short-range communications
interface 230 configured to communicate wirelessly with another
short-range communication device, such as device 300, by transmitting
wireless short-range communication signals 130.

[0029] Short-range communication signals 130 may be used for the exchange
of information over a local area varying for example from a couple of
centimeters to some hundred of meters. Examples of wireless short-range
communication technologies comprise near field communication technologies
based on Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), such as MIFARE, Felicity
Card (FeliCa) and Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies,
Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, WLAN, Wireless Universal Serial
Bus (WUSB), Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and ZigBee (802.15.4, 802.15.4a)
technologies.

[0030] Apparatus 200 may further be embodied as a portable wireless
communications device equipped with wide-area communication means, such
as long-range communications interface 240 to connect with network 150
via a wireless communication link 160. Examples of wireless wide-area
communication technologies comprise 2nd generation (2G) digital cellular
networks, for example Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) that
may communicate in the 900 MHz/1.8 GHz bands in Europe and in the 850 MHz
and 1.9 GHz bands in the United States. Wide-area communication
technologies may further comprise general packet radio service (GPRS)
technology, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) technology,
code division multiple access (CDMA) technologies, and/or the like.

[0031] According to an alternative example embodiment, link 160 may be
provided with a wired connection. Examples of wired communication
technologies include ethernet, IEEE 1394, universal serial bus (USB)
protocol, any other serial or parallel wired connection, and/or the like.
Network 150 may be either a wireless network, or a wired network. Network
150 may further be connected to other networks. According to a further
example embodiment, apparatus 200 may be a stationary device having a
wireless and/or a wired interface for communicating with network 150.

[0032] Device 300, as shown in the example of FIG. 1, may be equipped with
a short-range communication interface 310 that is responsive to short
range communication signals 130 created by apparatus 200. According to
one example embodiment, the short-range communication interface 310 has
means for receiving and extracting power from the received signal 130 by
using for example a radio-frequency power extractor module. The extracted
power may provide at least a portion of the power required for the device
300 to be operational and communicate with apparatus 200. Example device
300 of FIG. 1 further comprises a memory/storage 350 that may be
configured to store information received from the apparatus 200 via the
short-range communication signal 130.

[0033] As further shown in FIG. 1 various other devices, such mobile
devices 110 and 120, and server 140 including a database 145 may be
connected to the network 150 via respective links (170, 180 and 190) so
that apparatus 200 may communicate with any of the other devices via the
network 150.

[0034] FIG. 2 discloses a modular layout for an apparatus according to an
example embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 200 is broken down
into modules representing a number of functional aspects of the device.
These functions may be performed by various combinations of the software
and/or hardware components discussed below.

[0035] Control module 210 regulates operation of the apparatus 200. The
control module may be embodied as a controlling means, for example as a
controlling circuitry or a processor. Inputs may be received from various
other modules comprised within apparatus 200. For example, user interface
260 may provide input to the control module 210 in response to receiving
input from a user via user input 262. So, user input received via the
user interface 260 may be used as an input in the control module 210 for
controlling the operation of the apparatus 200. Control module 210 may
interpret the data input and, in response, may issue one or more control
commands to at least one of the other modules in apparatus 200.

[0036] In an example embodiment, apparatus 200 comprises a communications
interface 220. Communications interfaces 220 may incorporate one or more
communication modules of the apparatus 200. In an example embodiment, the
communications interfaces 220 may comprise a means for wired and/or
wireless communication. As shown in the example of FIG. 2, communications
interfaces 220 may comprise a short-range communications module 230 and a
long-range communications module 240. The apparatus 200 may comprise
further communications modules, for example further wired and/or wireless
communication modules. Communications interfaces 220 may utilize one or
more of these modules to receive communication from both local and long
distance sources, and to transmit data to recipient devices from the
apparatus 200. Communications interfaces 220 may be activated by control
module 210, or by control resources local to the sub-modules responding
to received messages, environmental influences and/or other devices in
communication with the apparatus 200.

[0037] Short-range communication module 230 may comprise a near field
communications interface configured to communicate over a short distance,
for example over a range of a few centimeters using electromagnetic
and/or electrostatic coupling technologies. In an example embodiment,
near field communication comprises radio-frequency identification (RFID)
technologies including Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

[0038] Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies provide wireless
systems for automatic identification, tracking and managing of objects
via a wireless connection between a tag attached to the object and a
reader device. The tag may include a transponder that may be active or
passive. In the presence of an electromagnetic field created by the
reader device, the transponder may transmit at least an object identity
signal. The reader device may sense and decode the broadcast signal to
identify the object. The object identity is received by the reader device
via a connectionless communication. In other words, the object identity
signal is received without a logical connection between the reader device
and the tag attached to the object. RFID technologies comprise a range of
RF transmission systems, for example standardized and proprietary systems
for a large number of different purposes, such as product tagging for
inventory handling and logistics, theft prevention purposes at the point
of sales and product recycling at the end of the life-cycle of the tagged
product. In addition, RFID systems have been introduced for various
payment and ticketing concepts comprising public transportation ticketing
and payment. As an example, in several European countries and also in
Canada and Mexico, there are several public transportation systems based
on Calypso, the international electronic ticketing standard for
microprocessor contactless smartcards, originally designed by a group of
European transit operators. Further, for example in Japan, Hong Kong and
Korea, there are Felicity Card (FeliCa) technology based mass transit
systems, such as the Octopus card system in Hong Kong. The Octopus card
is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer
electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong. In
addition, RFID based tagging is a common technology for animal
identification and similar concepts have been proposed to for human
implantation also.

[0039] Near Field Communication (NFC) is a RFID based technology that
evolved from a combination of existing contactless identification and
interconnection technologies operating at 13.56 MHz. NFC is a technology
providing also bi-rectional directional communication between NFC
devices. Communication between two NFC-compatible devices occurs when
they are brought close to one another. NFC technology was introduced by a
non-profit industry association named NFC Forum to advance the use of NFC
short-range wireless interaction in consumer electronics, such as, for
example, mobile devices and personal computers.

[0041] As an example, Bluetooth® Low Energy is an extension for
Bluetooth® that is designed for low energy consumption. Bluetooth®
Low Energy may offer long-lasting connectivity with low power
consumption. Thus, Bluetooth® Low Energy may extend the range of
potential applications for Bluetooth® communication. Bluetooth® Low
Energy is designed to bridge the gap between small sensor type devices
and mobile devices as it consumes only a fraction of the power of a
classic Bluetooth® device. With Bluetooth® Low Energy, a device may
operate more than a year on a button cell battery without recharging.

[0042] Long-range communication module 240 may comprise one or more
long-range communications interfaces configured to communicate and
exchange information over a long distance in a large geographic area
using any of the wide-area communication technologies described earlier
in connection with FIG. 1.

[0043] As a subset of long-range communications module 240, or
alternatively operating as an independent module separately coupled to
processor 210, the apparatus 200 may comprise a broadcast receiver. The
broadcast receiver may be a digital audio- or video receiver, for example
a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) or a digital video broadcasting (DVB)
receiver, and/or the like. According to an example embodiment, the
broadcast receiver comprises a Digital Video Broadcast for Handheld
Apparatuses (DVB-H) receiver. The broadcasting transmissions may be
encoded so that only certain apparatuses may access the transmitted
content. The broadcast transmission may comprise text, audio and/or video
information, and data. In an example embodiment, apparatus 200 may
receive broadcasts and/or information within the broadcast signal to
determine if the apparatus is permitted to view the received content.

[0044] According to an example embodiment, either the short-range
communications module 230, or the long-range communications module 240
may be equipped with a wired interface that may be used for communicating
with another device using a wired communication protocol via an interface
such as ethernet, an IEEE 1394 communication interface, a universal
serial bus (USB) interface, and/or the like.

[0045] User interface 260 may include visual, audible and/or tactile
elements which allow a user to receive data from, and enter data into,
the apparatus. Data entered by a user is received via user input module
262 and may be interpreted by control module 210, for example to affect
the behavior of apparatus 200. User-inputted data may also be transmitted
via the communications interface 220 to another device. Information may
also be received by other devices at the apparatus 200 via communications
interface 220. Control module 210 may cause this information to be
transferred to user interface 260 for presentation to the user via user
output module 264. User interface 220 may comprise one or more user input
and output modules, and there may also be a module operating both as a
user input module 262 and user output module 264, for example a touch
screen display operating as a tactile user interface.

[0046] According to one embodiment, apparatus 200 may further comprise an
RF powering interface 250. RF powering interface 250 may be configured to
provide a wireless signal for enabling another device, such as the
short-range communications device 300 of FIG. 1 to receive at least a
portion of necessary power for operation. RF powering interface 250 may
be further configured to provide an RF field for enabling the other
device, such as the short-range communications device 300, to receive
necessary power for responding to signals transmitted by the apparatus
via the short-range communication module 230. According to one
embodiment, the RF powering signal may include timing information so that
a receiving device, such as the short-range communications device 300 of
FIG. 1, can maintain synchrony with apparatus 200 during communication.
An example of such RF powering interface 250 is an ultra-high frequency
(UHF) power transceiver that has the sole purpose of creating a powering
signal when apparatus 200 is communicating with passive tag device
requiring such external powering. This type of powering interface may be
advantageous especially in situations where the apparatus 200 is
communicating with passive radio frequency tags operating over a high
data rate communication channel, such as an impulse radio based ultra
wide-band short-range communication protocol that is not capable of
providing the necessary power to the passive and/or semi-passive tag
device with the transmitted communication signals. Alternatively, the RF
powering interface 250 may be implemented within one or more of the
communication modules. As an example, the RF powering interface 250 may
be included within the long-range communication module 240 implemented
for example as an add-on part of the Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) radio module that is used to alter the communication
modules behavior to provide the necessary RF powering signal when such
powering is needed. Similarly, the RF powering interface 250 may be
included within the short-range communication module 230 implemented for
example as an add-on part of the RFID communications module to alter
behavior of the short-range communication module 230 to provide the
necessary RF powering signal when such powering is needed.

[0047] Apparatus 200 may further comprise a memory or storage 270.
Memory/storage 270 may be connected to controller 210. Memory/storage 270
may include an application module 275 which incorporates other hardware
and/or software applications of apparatus 200. The memory/storage 270 may
also incorporate a database 280. The database 280 may comprise one or
more data items, for example information related to one or more users of
the apparatus 200. Memory/storage 270 may further store executable
instructions that are configured to cause the apparatus 200 to perform
various actions in co-operation with the control module 210.

[0048] FIG. 3A discloses an example modular layout for an example
apparatus, such as device 300 of FIG. 1, according to an example
embodiment of the present invention. This example implementation of
device 300 comprises RF interface embodied as a transceiver 310
comprising antenna 312, antenna modulator 314 and buffer memory 316 that
is configured to record for example information received via the RF
interface before forwarding the information to other modules within the
apparatus. Antenna modulator 314 controls one or more properties of
antenna 312, such as its impedance. This enables the example device 300,
such as a passive radio frequency tag to reflect and/or absorb
reader-initiated transmissions. According to one embodiment, the
reader-initiated transmissions comprise impulse radio based ultra
wide-band signals that convey information. Upon receipt of the
transmissions, the example device 300 may generate reflections that may
be used to convey information to communicate back to the reader according
to used communication protocol. Antenna modulator 314 may cause such
reflections to occur in response to particular portions of received
signals, such as clock pulses.

[0049] According to one embodiment, device 300 includes means for
switching operating power for the transceiver 310 implemented as a switch
360. It should be noted that although a physical switch 360 is shown on
the example embodiment of FIG. 3A, the switch may be implemented also as
software or any combination of software and/or hardware. Irrespective of
the implementation of the switch, the purpose of the switch is to control
operation of the RF interface so that the transceiver 310 can be powered
down at least partly. In other words, switch 360 is capable of powering
down any one of the modules within transceiver 310, or the entire
transceiver upon receiving corresponding instruction.

[0050] The example device 300 of FIG. 3A further includes a processing
module 330 controlling various operations within the apparatus 300, such
as controlling the operation of the switch 360, a clock extraction module
340, a memory/storage 350 and a RF power module 320. Processing module
330 controls device operation. As shown in example FIG. 3A, processing
module 330 may be coupled to an associated memory, such as memory/storage
350. Processing module 330 may be embodied as controlling means, such as
a controlling circuitry or one or more microprocessors that are each
capable of executing software instructions stored in the memory/storage
350.

[0051] According to one embodiment, clock extraction module 340 is
configured to govern performance of other device components. For
instance, the clock extraction module 340 may control the timing in which
antenna modulator 320 varies the impedance of antenna 315. According to
an embodiment the clock extraction module 330 is configured to provide
time stamps, e.g. to any received or transmitted packets or signals.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the present invention, RF power
module 320 is configured to provide power to various components of device
300. Power module 320 may include antenna 322 and power extractor 324
modules including suitable electronics (such as coil(s), rectifier(s),
and/or capacitor(s)) to harvest energy from received electromagnetic
transmissions, such as from an interrogation signal composed of a series
of signals. In addition to conveying information, each of these signals
may transfer energy that keeps voltage of the device 300 above the
device's minimum required operational voltage. Therefore, device 300 may
continually operate without any internal power source until the voltage
decays below the minimum required operational voltage. According to an
alternative embodiment, the RF power module 320 may receive power from
transmissions originated by another transmission source. So, instead of
receiving operational power from received signals including payload data,
device 300 may receive power from an RF powering signal provided for
example by RF powering interface 250 of apparatus 200. According to one
embodiment, the RF powering signal includes also timing information so
that device 300 can maintain synchrony with signal source, such as
apparatus 200 of FIG. 1, during communication. Device 300 equipped with
RF power module 320 may operate as a passive or semi-passive tag that
utilizes energy received from the received electromagnetic transmissions
at least for communicating information back to source of the
transmission.

[0053] Memory/storage 350 stores information in the form of data and
software components (also referred to herein as modules). These software
components include instructions that can be executed by processing module
330. Various types of software components may be stored in memory/storage
350. For instance, memory/storage 350 may store software components that
control the generation of data. Memory/storage 350 may be implemented
with random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), Flash memory
and/or phase change memory (PCM), or like.

[0054] According to an example embodiment of FIG. 3A, the memory/storage
350 includes an internal buffer memory 352 and at least one non-volatile
memory module 354, embodied for example either as a Flash, or phase
change memory (PCM) memory module. The buffer memory 352 operates as a
temporary storage location for payload data to be recorded into the
non-volatile memory module 354 upon actual recording operation. Writing
data to a non-volatile memory requires considerable amount of energy. For
example, a Read Only Memory chip (ROM), such as Electrically Erasable
Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), or serial Flash memory chip
having memory size in the order of few megabits and supply voltage at 1.8
volts, the power consumption for actual write operation ranges roughly
from 2 to 20 mW. Emerging memory technologies, such as the phase change
memory (PCM), may reduce the power consumption of the write operation,
but on the other hand the memory sizes are constantly increasing, so the
problem remains.

[0055] According to one embodiment, device 300 may further include an
internal power source, such as a battery so that the device 300 can
remain operational (i.e. perform various internal processes such as
storing data etc.) without external powering. However, even with internal
power source device 300 may still require the external RF field for
communication with external devices.

[0056] In view of the above, when considering passive devices, such as
write-enabled radio frequency tags having no internal power source, power
consumption of various operations becomes important. One technical
challenge in developing a passive device with no internal power source is
that writing data to a non-volatile memory may consume a significant
amount of the whole available power budget. Further, when communicating
with passive devices, a reader/writer device, such as apparatus 200, have
to provide necessary power for the passive device, such as the
write-enabled radio frequency tag device 300 to operate and communicate
with the reader/writer device 200. So, the power consumption of the
passive device may result as increased power consumption of the
reader/writer device. In a battery powered device, such as apparatus 200,
energy consumption is an important topic to consider in connection with
operating times, which depends on the current required for operating the
device and available battery capacity. So, the higher the energy
consumption of apparatus 200 is, the smaller the battery lifetime is for
the same device.

[0057] According to one example embodiment of the present invention, when
payload data is stored to a non-volatile memory associated with a passive
device, such as recording data from buffer memory 352 to non-volatile
memory module 354 of example apparatus 300, at least a portion of the
transceiver 310 is powered down for example by way of using the switch
360 to disconnect one or more modules in the transceiver 310 from power
source. According to an alternative example embodiment, controller 330
may be programmed to power down at least a portion of the transceiver 310
or the entire transceiver when payload data is stored to non-volatile
memory 354. When the entire transceiver is powered down, device 300 may
remain synchrony with signal source by way of using timing information
included in the RF powering signal that is received via the RF power
module.

[0058] FIG. 3B discloses an example modular layout for an example
apparatus according to another example embodiment of the present
invention. Device 300' according to this alternative example embodiment
includes basically the same functional modules than example device 300 of
FIG. 3A with similar functions except that RF powering module is
integrated into transceiver 310'. So, example transceiver 310' includes
in addition to antenna 312', antenna modulator 314' and a buffer memory
316' also a separate antenna 322' and a power extractor 324' including
suitable electronics (such as coil(s), rectifier(s), and/or capacitor(s))
to harvest energy from received electromagnetic transmissions, such as
from an interrogation signal composed of a series of signals. In addition
to conveying information, each of these signals may transfer energy that
keeps voltage of the device 300' above the device's minimum required
operational voltage. Therefore, also device 300' may continually operate
without any internal power source until the voltage decays below the
minimum required operational voltage using necessary power harvesting
modules integrated into RF interface as shown in the example device 300'
of FIG. 3B. According to an alternative embodiment, the integrated power
harvesting modules may receive power from transmissions originated by
another transmission source via the RF interface. So, instead of
receiving operational power through from received signal including
payload data, device 300' may receive power from an RF powering signal
provided for example by RF powering interface 250 of apparatus 200.
Device 300' equipped with integrated power harvesting modules in RF
interface as shown in the transceiver 310' of FIG. 3 may operate as a
passive or semi-passive tag that utilizes energy received from the
received electromagnetic transmissions at least for communicating
information back to source of the transmission.

[0059] Similarly to device 300 of FIG. 3A, device 300' of FIG. 3B may
include a processing module 330' controlling various operations within
the apparatus 300', such as controlling operation of switch 360' for
powering down the transceiver 310' at least partly. According to one
embodiment, switch 360' is capable of powering down any one of the
modules within transceiver 310' except modules related to harvesting
power from received electromagnetic transmissions, Further, example
device 300' includes a clock extraction module 340' and a memory/storage
350' configured to operate in a similar fashion as the example clock
extraction module 340 and the memory and/or storage 350 of device 300 of
FIG. 3A.

[0060] According to one embodiment, device 300' may also include an
internal power source, such as a battery so that the device 300' can
remain operational (i.e. perform various internal processes such as
storing data etc.) without external powering. However, even with internal
power source device 300' may still require the external RF field for
communication with external devices.

[0061] According to one example embodiment of the present invention, when
payload data is stored to a non-volatile memory associated with a passive
device, such as recording data from buffer memory 352' to non-volatile
memory module 354' of example apparatus 300', at least a portion of the
transceiver 310' is powered down for example by way of using the switch
360' to disconnect one or more modules in the transceiver 310' from power
source. According to an alternative example embodiment, controller 330'
may be programmed to power down at least a portion of the transceiver
310' or the entire transceiver when payload data is stored to
non-volatile memory 354'.

[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates an example method 400 for transmitting data to
another device for information storing according to an example embodiment
of the present invention. The method starts with block 410 where an
apparatus, such as device 200 of FIG. 1 with a need to write or store
specific data to another device transmits one or more wireless signals in
order to search for radio frequency devices, such as write-enabled device
300 of FIG. 1. The wireless signals comprise, according to an embodiment
of the present invention, an RF interrogation signal that may provide
necessary energy for the other device to respond to the interrogation
signal. According to one embodiment, the interrogation signal energizes
the other device.

[0063] In response to the transmitted signals, the apparatus may receive
one or more wireless signals that can be used for detecting external
devices, as shown in block 420. In case no write-enabled devices are
detected, the method goes directly back to block 410 and continues with
searching for radio frequency devices. According to one embodiment, the
operation may be periodical so that a predetermined delay is implemented
before entering back to block 410. In case at least one detected device
comprises a write-enabled device, the method continues with block 430
where operation mode to write data to a memory associated with a
write-enabled tag device is selected. According to one embodiment, the
operation mode comprises a protocol for writing data to the write-enabled
device.

[0064] After selection of the operation mode to write data to the memory
associated with the write-enabled device in block 430, the method
continues with block 440 where the write operation is performed according
to the selected operation mode. According to an embodiment, the write
operation mode comprises communicating with the write-enabled device
according to the protocol for writing data to the write-enabled device,
wherein the protocol may comprise exchange of one or more signals
including payload data and one or more indications instructing write
operation for the associated payload data. According to one embodiment,
the one or more indications further comprise timing information including
a time period and instructions for a receiving write-enabled device to
power down associated transceiver at least partly for the duration of the
time.

[0065] According to one embodiment, apparatus 200 may transmit instead of
the interrogation signal another type of wireless signal comprising power
for powering the write-enabled device at least partly. This other
wireless signal may be dedicated for powering the write-enabled device
and used in parallel with the signals communicating payload data.
According to one embodiment, the other wireless signal may further
comprise timing information for maintain synchrony for communication with
the write-enabled device also during situations when transceiver of the
write-enabled device is at least partly powered down and cannot be used
for maintaining synchrony. According to one embodiment, the powering
level of the transmitted powering signal is set to a higher level during
times when the write-enabled device is instructed to power down the
transceiver to make sure that the write-enabled device has necessary
power resource to perform the power consuming write operation.

[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates an example method 500 showing example operations
for information storing according to an example embodiment of the present
invention. The method may start with an optional block 510 where an
apparatus, such as the write-enabled device 300 of FIG. 1, detects a
wireless signal providing power to the device. After receiving the
wireless signal of block 510, the method 500 continues with block 520
where the write-enabled device receives one or more wireless signals
including payload data and one or more indications instructing write
operation for the payload data into a memory associated with the
write-enabled device according to a protocol configured for writing data
into the write-enabled device.

[0067] Method 500 then continues with step 530 where the apparatus, such
as the write-enabled device 300 of FIG. 1, powers down associated
transceiver at least partly while storing payload data into an associated
memory. According to one embodiment, powering down of the associated
transceiver may be triggered in response to detecting that an associated
buffer memory is full, or about to get full. According to one embodiment,
the one or more indications further comprise timing information including
a time period and instructions for the apparatus to power down the
associated transceiver at least partly for the duration of the time
period. According to an alternative embodiment, the associated
transceiver is powered down at least partly until storing of the received
payload data into the associated memory is completed. According to one
embodiment, powering down of the associated transceiver may happen in
more than one stage. For example, after receipt of the entire payload
data RF receiving parts of the transceiver can be powered down in first
stage. Similarly, after transceiver's buffer memory is emptied to other
parts of the apparatus it can be powered down as a second stage.

[0068] Although the above discussion of various embodiments of the present
invention has been relating to storing data into an associated memory,
corresponding techniques are applicable also whenever an operation
requiring memory access is performed, such as providing data from the
associated memory to another apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present invention. So, when an apparatus, such as device 300 of FIG. 1,
receives wireless signals requesting data from an associated memory, such
as non-volatile memory 354 of FIG. 3, the apparatus may power down an
associated transceiver at least partly while requested data is read out
from the non-volatile memory 354. Then, when the requested data is ready
to be provided to the requesting device via the RF interface, the
transceiver may be powered up back again for transmitting said data to
the requesting device. Further, similarly to various embodiments of the
present invention relating to storing data to an associated memory, also
in connection with embodiments relating to providing data from the
associated memory to a requesting device, the devices may negotiate
timing of powering down or the device providing the data may
independently decide on the timing of the powering down.

[0069] FIG. 6 illustrates an example method 600 for receiving data from
another device according to an example embodiment of the present
invention. The method starts with block 610 where an apparatus, such as
device 200 of FIG. 1 with a need to receive data from another device
transmits one or more wireless signals in order to search for radio
frequency devices, such as device 300 of FIG. 1. The wireless signals
comprise, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an RF
interrogation signal that may provide necessary energy for the other
device to respond to the interrogation signal. According to one
embodiment, the interrogation signal energizes the other device.

[0070] In response to the transmitted signals, the apparatus may receive
one or more wireless signals that can be used for detecting external
devices, as shown in block 620. In case no devices are detected, the
method goes directly back to block 610 and continues with searching for
radio frequency devices. According to one embodiment, the operation may
be periodical so that a predetermined delay is implemented before
entering back to block 610. In case at least one device is detected, the
method continues with block 630 where operation mode to receive data from
a memory associated with the detected device is selected. According to
one embodiment, the operation mode comprises a protocol for reading data
from the detected device.

[0071] After selection of the operation mode to read data from the memory
associated with the detected device in block 630, the method continues
with block 640 where the read operation is performed according to the
selected operation mode. According to an embodiment, the read operation
mode comprises communicating with the detected device according to the
protocol for reading data from the detected device, wherein the protocol
may comprise exchange of one or more signals including one or more
indications instructing read operation from the associated memory of the
detected device. According to one embodiment, the one or more indications
further comprise timing information including a time period and
instructions for a receiving device to power down associated transceiver
at least partly for the duration of the time period.

[0072] According to one embodiment, apparatus 200 may transmit instead of
the interrogation signal another type of wireless signal comprising power
for powering the detected device at least partly. This other wireless
signal may be dedicated for powering the detected device and used in
parallel with the signals communicating payload data. According to one
embodiment, the other wireless signal may further comprise timing
information for maintain synchrony for communication with the detected
device also during situations when transceiver of the detected device is
at least partly powered down and cannot be used for maintaining
synchrony.

[0073] FIG. 7 illustrates an example method 700 showing example operations
for providing information to another device according to an example
embodiment of the present invention. The method may start with an
optional block 710 where an apparatus, such as device 300 of FIG. 1,
detects a wireless signal providing power to the device. After receiving
the wireless signal of block 710, the method 700 continues with block 720
where the device receives one or more wireless signals requesting data
from a memory associated with the device according to a protocol
configured for reading data from device.

[0074] Method 700 then continues with block 730 where the apparatus, such
as device 300 of FIG. 1, powers down associated transceiver at least
partly while reading out data from an associated memory. According to one
embodiment, the received wireless signal comprises one or more
indications including a time period and instructions for the apparatus to
power down the associated transceiver at least partly for the duration of
the time period. According to an alternative embodiment, the associated
transceiver is powered down at least partly until reading out of the
requested data from the associated memory is completed.

[0075] Method 700 then continues with block 740, where the apparatus, such
as device 300 of FIG. 1 transmits the requested data to requesting
apparatus, such as device 200 of FIG. 1. In case the requested data is
not available in the associated memory, method 700 may be stopped before
proceeding to blocks 730-740. Before transmitting the requested data to
requesting apparatus, the associated transceiver, such as transceiver 300
of FIG. 1, is powered. Powering of the transceiver may be triggered e.g.
in response to detecting that the buffer memory is full, or when reading
of the requested data from the non-volatile memory is completed.

[0076] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or
application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or
more of the example embodiments disclosed herein may be power saving in
an apparatus, such as device 300 of FIG. 1, while storing received data
into an associated memory. Another technical effect may be may be power
saving in an apparatus, such as device 200 of FIG. 1, while transmitting
data for storing into an associated memory of a write-enabled device,
such as device 300 of FIG. 1.

[0077] Various operations and/or the like described herein may be executed
by and/or with the help of computers. Further, for example, devices
described herein may be and/or may incorporate computers. The phrases
"computer", "general purpose computer", and the like, as used herein,
refer but are not limited to a media device, a personal computer, an
engineering workstation, a personal digital assistant, a portable
computer, a computerized watch, a wired or wireless terminal, phone,
node, and/or the like, a set-top box, a personal video recorder (PVR), an
automatic teller machine (ATM), a game console, and/or the like.

[0078] Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in
software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software,
hardware and application logic. The software, application logic and/or
hardware may reside on a memory of any of the apparatuses 200 and 300 of
example FIG. 1. In an example embodiment, software or an instruction set
is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media.
In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any
media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or
transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an
instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer,
with one example of a computer described and depicted in FIG. 8. A
computer-readable medium may comprise a computer-readable storage medium
that may be any media or means that may contain or store the instructions
for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,
apparatus, or device, such as a computer.

[0079] The phrases "general purpose computer", "computer", and the like
may also refer to one or more processors operatively connected to one or
more memory or storage units, wherein the memory or storage may contain
data, algorithms, and/or program code, and the processor or processors
may execute the program code and/or manipulate the program code, data,
and/or algorithms. Accordingly, example computer 800 as shown in FIG. 8
that may be considered as one embodiment of the apparatuses 200 and 300
illustrated on FIG. 1 may include various hardware modules for causing
the computer to implement one or more embodiments of the present
invention. According to one example, the computer 800 include a system
bus 810 which may operatively connect processor 820, random access memory
830, read-only memory 840 that may store for example a computer code for
the computer 800 in a non-transitory manner to perform the example
methods illustrated on FIGS. 4-7. The system bus 810 may further
operatively connect input output (I/O) interface 850, storage interface
860, user interface 880 and computer readable medium interface 890.
Storage interface 860 may comprise or be connected to mass storage 870.

[0080] Mass storage 870 may be a hard drive, optical drive, or the like.
Processor 820 may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU), a digital signal
processor (DSP), or any other kind of processor. Computer 800 as shown in
this example also comprises a touch screen and keys operating in
connection with the user interface 880. In various example embodiments, a
mouse, and/or a keypad may alternately or additionally be employed.
Computer 800 may additionally include the computer readable medium
interface 880, which may be embodied by a card reader, a DVD drive, a
floppy disk drive, and/or the like. Thus, media containing program code,
for example for performing the example method 500 of FIG. 5, may be
inserted for the purpose of loading the code onto the computer.

[0081] Computer 800 may run one or more software modules designed to
perform one or more of the above-described operations. Corresponding
program code may be stored on a non-transitory physical media 900 such
as, for example, DVD, CD-ROM, and/or floppy disk. It is noted that any
described division of operations among particular software modules is for
purposes of illustration, and that alternate divisions of operation may
be employed. Accordingly, any operations discussed as being performed by
a software module may instead be performed by a plurality of software
modules. Similarly, any operations discussed as being performed by a
plurality of modules may instead be performed by a single module. It is
noted that operations disclosed as being performed by a particular
computer may instead be performed by a plurality of computers.

[0082] According to one embodiment, a computer program product is
provided, the computer program product comprising computer executable
program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer
executable program code comprising: A code for causing receipt of,
through a transceiver at an apparatus, a first wireless signal comprising
payload data and one or more indications instructing write operation for
the payload data; and a code for causing powering down of the transceiver
at least partly while storing the received payload data into an
associated memory within the apparatus according to the one or more
indications.

[0083] According to one embodiment, a computer program product is
provided, the computer program product comprising computer executable
program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer
executable program code comprising: A code configured for causing
detection of a write-enabled device, a code configured for causing
selection of an operation mode configured to write data to the
write-enabled device; and a code configured for causing transmission of a
first wireless signal comprising payload data and one or more indications
configured to instruct write operation for the payload data according to
the selected operation mode.

[0084] According to one embodiment, a method is provided, the method
comprising powering down an associated transceiver at least partly when
performing an operation requiring accessing an associated memory.

[0085] According to one embodiment, an apparatus is provided, the
apparatus comprising a transceiver, at least one processor, and at least
one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and
the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the
at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the
following: Power down an associated transceiver at least partly while
performing an operation requiring accessing an associated memory

[0086] According to one embodiment, a computer program product is
provided, the computer program product comprising computer executable
program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer
executable program code comprising: A code configured for causing
powering down an associated transceiver at least partly when performing
an operation requiring accessing an associated memory.

[0087] If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be
performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other.
Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may
be optional or may be combined.

[0088] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the
independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other
combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the
dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not
solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[0089] It is also noted herein that while the above describes example
embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in
a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications
which may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention as defined in the appended claims.